Why the Procedure Is Performed

Most experts recommend trying to use CPAP, nasal expanding strips, or an oral device to treat OSA first.

Your doctor may recommend this surgery to treat severe snoring, even if you do not have OSA. Before you decide about this surgery:

See if weight loss helps your snoring.

Consider how important it is to you to treat snoring. The surgery does not work for everyone.

Make sure your insurance will pay for this surgery. If you do not also have OSA, your insurance may not cover the surgery.

Sometimes, UPPP is done along with other more invasive surgeries to treat more severe OSA.

Risks

Risks for anesthesia and surgery in general are:

Reactions to medicines or breathing problems

Bleeding, blood clots, or infection

Risks for this surgery are:

Damage to the muscles in the throat and soft palate. You may have some problems keeping liquids from coming up through your nose when drinking (called velopharyngeal insufficiency). Most often, this is only a temporary side effect.

Mucus in the throat.

Speech changes.

Dehydration.

Before the Procedure

Be sure to tell your doctor or nurse:

If you are or could be pregnant

What drugs you are taking, including drugs, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription

If you have been drinking a lot of alcohol, more than 1 or 2 drinks a day